Portable army stove



J. u... BREESE ETAL 8 I March 14-, 1950 PORTABLE ARMY STOVE 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1944 March 14, 1950 J. L. BREESE ET ALPORTABLE ARMY STOVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 18, 1944 L I l I i I lII I l l l l l Patented Mar. 14, 1950 PORTABLE ARMY STOVE James L.Breese and Bruce Hayter, Santa Fe, N. Mex., assignors, by mesneassignments, to Breese Burners, Inc., Santa Fe, N. Mex., a corporationof Delaware Application March 18, 1944, Serial No. 527,022

This invention relates to an improvement in heaters. One purpose is toprovide a portable stove unit for military or camping use. Anotherpurpose is to provide a portable unit in which a volume of liquid fuelis included in the unit. Another purpose is to provide a portable burnerin which a container of liquid fuel is enclosed within a package orouter housing formed by a part of the burner. Another purpose is toprovide a burner which is sufliciently compact to be carried in thepocket of the user, when collapsed or taken down.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course ofspecification and claims. The invention is illustrated more or lessdiagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figures 1 and 2illustrating the device in condition for carriage or shipment;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fi ure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section illustrating the burner in use;

Figure 5 is a vertical section through a variant form of the device, thedevice being shown in condition for carriage or shipment;

Figure 6 is a vertical section illustrating the device in use;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of Figure 6 and Figure 8 is a verticalsection of a further variation.

Like parts are indicated by like numbers throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, and first to the form of Figures 1 to 4, Iillustrates a foraminous burner cylinder shown as provided with airinlets 2 spaced generally uniformly throughout the area of the cylinderI, from top to bottom thereof. 3 is a surrounding fuel containing cupthe bottom of which also serves as a bottom closure for the open endedcylinder I. The cylinder I may be permanently secured to the cup 3, orit may be detachable therefrom. In the event that the two parts aredetachable, the bottom of the cup 3 may be curved or filletted about 3Claims. (Cl. 12643) its outeredge, to center the cylinder I. The cup 3is shown as having a slightly outwardly flared upper lip 4 which definesan air inlet opening 5, i

and renders easier the insertion of the cover or closure, III. Thecylinder I is also shown as having upwardly extending supports 6 for anysuitable removable container or cup I, in which a ports 6 space the cupupwardly a substantial distance above the top of the cylinder I, thissubstantial clearance or spacing being of importance in the operation ofthe device.

When the device is packed for carriage or shipment, the outer closureIll slips into the top of the cup 3, as shown in Figure 2 and abutsagainst the supports 6. Any suitable container II, filled with a liquidfuel such for example, as gasoline, may be positioned within thecylinder I. I2 indicates any suitable removable cap. The heater may besufficiently small to be slipped into the pocket of a camper or soldier.The container II will carry sufiicient fuel to heat a substantial volumeof Water, coffee, soup or the like for 'possibly three or four beatingsor more.

Figures 5 to '7 illustrate a variant form of the device. The cylinder 2Icorresponds to cylinder I of earlier figures and is provided with aplurality of air inlet apertures 22, generally uniformly distributedthroughout the cylinder. 23 is a combined closure and cup. It forms partof the surrounding housing, when the device is packed. It forms a fuelreceiving cup when the device is in use. 24 is a centering element whichcenters the cylinder 2i in relation to the cup 23 and insures acircumferential air inlet passage 23a of substantially uniform radialwidth. 25 is an upper cup which is inverted and surrounds the upperportion of the cylinder 2|. There is preferably a clearance 25a betweenthe cups 23 and 25, as shown in Figure 6. The cup has a central topaperture 26 surrounded by a solid annular portion 21. 28 is any suitablespring which tends to prevent unintended relative movement of themembers 2| and 25. Since three of these springs are shown, they willalso center the cup 25 to maintain a uniform clearance between the twomembers. The member 2I is provided with upward supporting projections 29upon which the cup 25 seats. Thus, relatively large air inlets 30 areprovided about the upper edge of the cylinder 2|. 3| are upwardlyextending supports which support an upper element 32 having a centralfunnel portion 33 and a circumferential group of fiame apertures 34.

35 indicates any suitable container which may be employed to heatmaterial to be heated. 36 indicates a fuel container which may heslipped into the assembled device when it is in condition for shipment.31 is an outer closure which in- "cludes a portion 38 adapted totelescope within the lower cup 23 to complete a closed outer containerfor carriage or shipment.

limiid to be heated may be positioned. The sup- Figure 8 differs fromthe form of Figures 5 to 7 primarily in increasing the clearance betweeni the cup 23a and the cylinder Zla. This permits employment of asomewhat larger volume of liquid fuel. However, it is then desirable toemploy an intermediate horizontal annular baffle 40 in order to reducethe downward flow of air to the bottom of the cup 23a. In practice thisis necessary in order to stabilize the flame.

It will be realized that many changes may be made in size, proportion,shape and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention, for example, some of the parts may be permanently secured toeach other, or all or practically all of the parts, may be made freelyseparable from each other. Therefore, we wish our descriptions anddrawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic.

The foraminous tube which we use as part of our burner is of the utmostimportance. By foraminous we mean a tube having a very large number ofclosely spaced perforations extend- In effect, it is ing from end to endof the tube. a tube of the kind of material that might be used for asieve or a screen. The apertures in the tube, which define it as aforaminous tube, are

those closely spaced of relatively smaller size and extending as they dofrom end to end of the tube they permit passage of fuel, passage of air,I passage of flame and products of combustion through the wall of thetube at whatever position there along is necessary to promote combustionand, of course, under definite conditions of full fuel amount,temperature, wind and oxygen supply, the positions in the wall of thetube where such movements take place may be unpredictable.

However, under normal circumstances, the interior of the foraminoussleeve or tube constitutes a mixing chamber into which air flows throughthe apertures in the tube to mix with the vaporized fuel therewithin,the inflow of air resulting in adequate air to provide a completelycombustible mixture which may normally burn in the upper part of thetube or at or above the top of the tube.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

We illustrate what is in effect a miniature hydroxylating burner whichis particularly adapted to military or camping use, but may have otherapplications, domestic or otherwise. In considering the form of Figures1 to 4, a soldier or sportsman can easily carry one of the heaters inhis pocket or pack. The packaged heater includes a can of liquid fuel.The outer housing Ill surrounds and protects the burner parts and thecan of fuel. To use it, the outer housinglll is removed, the fuelcontainer II is taken out and the cylinder I, in the cup 3, is stood onend. A

relatively small volume of liquid fuel can then be poured into thebottom of the cup 3, as shown in Figure 4. Under some circumstances itis advisable first to pour in a small volume of water. The fuel willfloat on the surface of the water. When the fuel is lighted the cup Ican be positioned as shown. Primary air for combustion will flow downabout the cylinder I, within the cup 3, and will supply primary air tothe vaporized fuel. The combustion can be initiated by dropping alighted match or a lighted piece of paper or oil soaked waste into thebottom of the cylinder l. The primary mixture will rise in the cylinderI and receive secondary air through the higher air inlets 2. The air gapbetween the top of the cylinder I and the bottom of the cup l is also animportant factor in maintaining prop.- er combustion. The flame thusprovided will rapidly heat the contents of a. small container to theboiling point.

In the form of Figs. 5 to 7 the operation of the device is similar, butin larger sizes, the addition of water, as shown at A, becomes moreimportant and the gasoline level indicated at B, may be somewhat higherin the burner, when combustion is initiated. The primary air flowsthrough the gap 25a and down into the space 2311. The secondary airflows upwardly within a cup 25 and into the upper apertures or throughthe cutaway portion 30. The supports 3| maintain the necessary clearancebetween the top of the burner and the bottom of the heated container 35.The funnel 33 makes the pouring of water or fuel into the burner easy.

Where the diameter of the cup 23a is increased as in Figure 8, we findit important to employ a baflie 40 in order to restrict the volume ofprimary air which flows downwardly to the lower portion of the cylinder2la.

We claim:

1. In a portable, demountable heater, an outer housing including a cupand a closure in removable relation with said cup, an open endedforaminous sleeve positioned within said cup and adapted, when theclosure is removed and the cup is in upright position, to serve as aburner, with the lower end of the sleeve extending into the cup, the cupbeing radially outwardly spaced from and surrounding a lower portion ofthe sleeve, and means effective, when the closure is removed, to supporta cooking vessel at a level spaced upwardly from the end of the sleeveincluding a perforated plate extending across the upper end of saidsleeve.

2. In a portable, demountable heater, an outer housing including a cupand a closure in removable relation with said cup, an open endedforaminous sleeve positioned within said cup and adapted, when theclosure is removed and the cup is in upright position, to serve as aburner, with the lower end of the sleeve extending into the cup, the cupbeing radially outwardly spaced from and surrounding a lower portion ofthe sleeve, and means eiTective, when the closure is removed, to supporta cooking vessel at a level spaced upwardly from the end of the sleeveincluding a perforated plate extending across the upper end of saidsleeve, said plate having a circumi'erential flange extending downwardlyabout and surrounding an upper portion of said sleeve.

3. In a portable, demountable heater, an outer housing including a cupand a closure in removable relation with said cup, an open endedforaminous sleeve positioned within said cup and adapted, when theclosure is removed and the cup is in upright position, to serve as aburner, with the lower end of the sleeve extending into the cup, the cupbeing radially outwardly spaced from and surrounding a lower portion ofthe sleeve, and means effective, when the closure is removed, to supporta cooking Vessel at a level spaced upwardly from the end of the sleeveincluding a perforated plate extending across the upper end of saidsleeve, said plate having a circumferential flange extending downwardlyabout and surrounding an upper portion of said sleeve, the lower edge ofsaid flange being spaced from the upper edge of said cup.

JAMES L. BREESE. BRUCE HAYTER.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Name Date Toothill Dec. 10, 1861 JensehAug. 9, 1887 Peters Dec. 8, 1896 Schleusselberg Mar. 21, 1916 PiotrowskiJuly 16, 1918 Number FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Norway Oct. 3, 1921Austria Mar. 10,1910 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1922 France May 12, 1902Great Britain Dec. 31, 1936 France Aug. 25, 1919 Germany June 8, 1935France Apr. 20, 1942

